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US Warns Citizens Ahead Of Jerusalem Move; Hamas Calls For ‘Day Of Rage’ On Friday

December 5, 2017

The U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem has ordered its personnel and their families not to conduct personal travel to Jerusalem’s Old City or the West Bank due to fears of unrest over an expected U.S. announcement.

Palestinian groups have threatened widespread protests if President Donald Trump recognizes contested Jerusalem as Israel’s capital or advances plans to move the U.S. Embassy there from Tel Aviv. Trump is expected to announce his decision Wednesday.

In a statement issued late Tuesday, the Consulate said U.S. government employees could still travel to the Old City and West Bank for “essential” business, but only with additional security.

The warning also urged American citizens to avoid large crowds or areas with increased police or military presence.

Hamas has called for a “day of rage” Friday in response to U.S President Donald Trump’s decision to move the U.S embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. In a statement, the group said the move would cross “every read line”.

Elsewhere, Jordan’s Foreign Minister announced that that his country planned to convene an emergency meeting of the Arab League Saturday and Sunday. It would be the second such emergency convening in a month.

Trump informed Palestinian President Mahmolud Abbas, Jordan’s King Abdullah and Egypt’s President Adbel-Fattah al-Sisi on Tuesday that he intends to move the U.S. Embassy to Occupied Jerusalem.

King Salman of Saudi Arabia said the move would provoke muslims.

“President Mahmoud Abbas received a telephone call from U.S. President Donald Trump in which he notified the President [Abbas] of his intention to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem,” spokesman to President Abbas Nabil Abu Rdainah said in a statement.